Sunday, Dec 07

Daily Current Affairs: 7 December 2025

Daily current affairs for 7 December 2025 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.

Editorial note for exam revision Last updated: 7 December 2025. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days.

Today at a glance

Top current affairs to revise

  1. Indian Armed Forces Flag Day observed on December 7
  2. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) transfers seven indigenous technologies to Indian Armed Forces and approves 12 new defence projects
  3. Google Gemini tops India’s 2025 search chart as AI tools dominate queries
  4. India and Malaysia commence 5th edition of Harimau Shakti exercise in Rajasthan
  5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants in-principle nod to Fino Payments Bank for small finance bank conversion
  6. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reduces Repo Rate to 5.25 Percent

Indian Armed Forces Flag Day observed on December 7

Key Updates:

  • Indian Armed Forces Flag Day is observed annually on December 7.
  • The day was established on December 7, 1949, to pay nationwide tribute to the armed forces.
  • Citizens contribute voluntary donations to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) for war widows, disabled soldiers, and ex-servicemen.
  • Small flags in red, deep blue, and light blue signify support for the Army, Navy, and Air Force respectively.

Similar / Past Coverage

Navy Day 2025 observed on December 4 (Start of December)

Navy Day is observed every year on December 4. The day honours the Indian Navy’s victory during Operation Trident on the night of 4 December 1971.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) transfers seven indigenous technologies to Indian Armed Forces and approves 12 new defence projects

Key Updates:

  • DRDO has handed over seven cutting-edge technologies developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to the three Services.
  • Technologies include an indigenous high-voltage power supply for airborne self-protection jammers, a tide-efficient gangway for naval jetties, advanced very low frequency–high frequency switching matrix systems, VLF loop aerials for underwater platforms, an indigenous waterjet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft, a novel process for recovery of lithium precursors from used lithium-ion batteries, and a long-life seawater battery system for sustained underwater sensing and surveillance applications.
  • The handover took place at the meeting of the Empowered Committee of DRDO, held at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat.
  • The Committee approved 12 new projects spanning strategic, aerospace, naval and electronic warfare technologies.

Similar / Past Coverage

DRDO's Samanvay 2025 Meet in Bengaluru Sees Tech Transfer Agreements (Start of November)

The event, Samanvay 2025, is a two-day industry synergy meet organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Proof: "The handover took…

Google Gemini tops India’s 2025 search chart as AI tools dominate queries

Key Updates:

  • Google Gemini grabbed the top overall search spot, reflecting the country’s use of AI tools like DeepSeek and Perplexity.
  • AI trends Gemini “Nano Banana” and X’s Grok took the internet by surprise.
  • Operation Sindoor, Pehelgam attack and questions like “What is ceasefire” garnered high engagement.

Similar / Past Coverage

India’s AI investment crosses ₹1.67 lakh crore ($20 billion), overtaking France, Japan and South Korea (End of October)

Total AI-related investments in India have crossed ₹1.67 lakh crore ($20 billion) according to MeitY data Private-sector AI investment in India between 2013-2024 reached ₹92,000 crore; total funding including public…

Reliance and Google Partner to Bring Free AI Pro Access and Build AI Infrastructure in India (Start of November)

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited RIL, through its subsidiary Reliance Intelligence Limited, has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence AI…

India releases two landmark AI reports at 'Road to India AI Impact Summit 2026' (Mid of September)

Two reports released: 'Roadmap for AI for Viksit Bharat – An Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth' and the 'NITI Frontier Tech Repository' Released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways/Electronics & IT…

India and Malaysia commence 5th edition of Harimau Shakti exercise in Rajasthan

Key Updates:

  • The fifth edition of the joint military exercise 'Harimau Shakti' is being held at Mahajan Field Firing Range from December 5-18.
  • The Indian contingent is represented mainly by troops from the Dogra Regiment.
  • The Malaysian side is represented by troops from the 25th Battalion Royal Malaysian Army.
  • The exercise aims to jointly rehearse conduct of sub-conventional operations under Chapter VII of United Nations mandate.
  • The scope includes synergising joint responses during counter-terrorist operations, cordon, search and destroy missions, and heliborne operations.
  • Army Martial Arts Routine, combat reflex shooting, and yoga are part of the exercise curriculum.
  • Both sides will rehearse drills to secure helipads and undertake casualty evacuation during counter-terrorist operations.

Similar / Past Coverage

Mission Shakti 5.0 from first Navratri; women safety steps to intensify: Yogi (End of September)

The fifth phase of Mission Shakti will commence on Sept 22 to coincide with the start of Shardiya Navratri and continue for 30 days. Foot patrolling by police will be made more stringent while all PRV-112 vehicles will…

Harbhajan Singh, Saina Nehwal, and Rohit Shetty honoured as ‘Fit India Icons’ (Start of November)

Harbhajan Singh, Saina Nehwal, and Rohit Shetty were "honoured as ‘Fit India Icons’". The honour was bestowed "at National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025".

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants in-principle nod to Fino Payments Bank for small finance bank conversion

Key Updates:

  • Fino Payments Bank becomes the first payments bank to receive RBI in-principle approval for conversion into a small finance bank.
  • Post-conversion, Fino will be able to undertake on-balance sheet lending, a facility not permitted for payments banks.
  • Payments banks are restricted to deploying deposits in government securities or bonds and earning fee income from payments and remittances services.
  • Fino already offers third-party gold loans, housing loans, and loans against property as referral services and earns fees from these verticals.
  • Only payments banks that have completed five years of operations and are resident-controlled are eligible for conversion into small finance banks.
  • Entities promoted by corporates such as Airtel or Jio are not considered for such conversion.

Similar / Past Coverage

1729 Capital gets RBI nod to raise Suryoday stake (End of November)

RBI granted approval to foreign portfolio investor 1729 Capital to hold a total stake of 7.14% in Suryoday Small Finance Bank. As of September 30, the foreign portfolio investor held a 3.81% stake in the bank.

RBI returns Jana SFB’s universal-bank licence bid; Q2 FY26 gross NPA 2.75%, net NPA 0.90% (Start of November)

RBI has returned Jana SFB’s application to convert into a universal bank, citing unmet eligibility criteria. Jana SFB reported gross NPA of 2.75 percent and net NPA of 0.90 percent for Q2 FY26.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reduces Repo Rate to 5.25 Percent

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a 25-basis-point reduction in the repo rate, bringing it down to 5.25 percent.
  • The central bank cut policy rates by a cumulative 125 basis points during 2025.
  • Average headline inflation for Q2:2025-26 was 1.7 percent, breaching the lower tolerance threshold of 2 percent.
  • Inflation dipped to 0.3 percent in October 2025.
  • Real GDP growth accelerated to 8.2 percent in Q2.
  • Inflation was 2.2 percent and growth was 8.0 percent in H1:2025-26.
  • The MPC slashed the inflation aim by 60 basis points to 2 percent.
  • The central bank raised the FY26 growth forecast to 7.3 percent.

Similar / Past Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) pilots retail digital rupee crossing 120 million transactions worth over ₹28,000 crore

Key Updates:

  • The retail CBDC pilot has processed more than 120 million transactions valued at over ₹28,000 crore.
  • The pilot includes 17 banks and has an active user base of over 8 million.
  • Retail e-rupee circulation surged 334% in Financial Year 2025 to ₹1,016.5 crore as of March 2025.
  • RBI is focusing on programmability and cross-border integration for the digital rupee.
  • RBI has introduced a retail sandbox enabling fintech firms to develop CBDC-based solutions.

Similar / Past Coverage

SBI joins $100-billion m-cap club: Q2 net profit up 10% to ₹20,160 crore, NII rises 3% to ₹42,985 crore (Start of November)

SBI’s net profit rose 10% year-on-year to ₹20,160 crore, aided by a one-off gain of ₹4,593 crore from the sale of its stake in YES Bank. Net interest income increased 3% year-on-year to ₹42,985 crore, exceeding…

India’s 2025 festive-season sales hit Rs 5.40 lakh crore in goods plus Rs 65,000 crore in services: CAIT survey (End of October)

Total goods trade during the 2025 festive season reached Rs 5.40 lakh crore, up 25% from Rs 4.25 lakh crore in 2024. Services related to packaging, logistics, hospitality, travel, event management and delivery added…

Microsoft Store Awards 2025 spotlight AI, productivity and creativity apps

Key Updates:

  • Perplexity’s Windows app uses native voice dictation, multi-modal AI search and enterprise IT policies.
  • ChatGPT for Windows adds an Alt + Space companion window, direct file/image uploads and privacy-first enterprise controls.
  • Moon Technolabs’ Invoice Maker & Estimate Creator offers customizable templates, real-time cash-flow analytics and multi-channel sharing.
  • Manus autonomously runs Python, JavaScript or Bash scripts in a sandboxed Windows environment while exposing a live control interface.
  • n-Track Studio turns Windows PCs into unlimited-track recording studios with AI tools and cross-platform project sync.
  • Moises Live performs real-time AI audio separation system-wide, leveraging Copilot+ NPUs for local, latency-free processing.
  • ngrok provides secure tunneling integrated with Windows Defender and runs as a background service for developer workflows.
  • Scratch 3 supports offline editing and hardware extensions like micro:bit and LEGO for classroom robotics projects.
  • Castle Craft delivers scalable, family-friendly strategy gameplay with dynamic resource merging across Windows devices.
  • Notion on Windows integrates taskbar pinning, offline access and template-driven automation for project management.

Similar / Past Coverage

Kotak811 Ranks 3rd Globally in H1 2025 Banking App Downloads: Sensor Tower (Mid of September)

Kotak811 logged over 16 million downloads in H1 2025, a 250% year-on-year surge. SBI Yono ranked fourth with 14 million downloads in H1 2025.

PayPal to embed digital wallet into ChatGPT, enabling AI-driven agentic commerce (End of October)

PayPal will embed its digital payment wallet into ChatGPT starting next year, letting users complete purchases directly within the chatbot The integration will make "millions of products discoverable and purchasable…

Google Rolls Out Gemini 3 Deep Think Mode with Strongest Reasoning Capabilities

Key Updates:

  • Google has started rolling out Gemini 3 Deep Think mode to Google AI Ultra subscribers using the Gemini app.
  • The feature is designed for demanding maths, science and logic tasks, supported by advanced parallel reasoning.
  • CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted how the new mode can handle highly complex tasks, calling it a feature that “brings our strongest reasoning capabilities yet.”
  • Deep Think mode is built for tough maths, science and logic problems that push the limits of current AI systems.
  • Gemini 3 Deep Think leads key benchmarks such as Humanity’s Last Exam at 41.0% (without tools) and ARC-AGI-2 at 45.1% (with code execution).
  • Google attributes this performance to advanced parallel reasoning, allowing the model to test several ideas at once.
  • With Deep Think mode, Gemini uses iterative rounds of reasoning, resulting in more refined, nuanced code that helps you visualize, prototype and experiment with noticeably richer detail.”

Similar / Past Coverage

India Leads Global Adoption of Google Gemini's AI Tutoring Tool (Start of November)

India leads the world in adopting Google's Guided Learning feature within Gemini. Over 2 million Indian students are accessing the AI tutor, with free access to Google AI Pro through a special student offer.

India's Atomesus AI, a Hybrid System, Set to Launch Soon (Start of November)

Atomesus AI, developed under the leadership of Indus Valley Group, is gearing up for its official launch. The initiative is led by a group of passionate college innovators with research exposure to ISRO-linked projects.

Google unveils Ironwood, its seventh-generation TPU for large-scale AI workloads (Start of November)

Ironwood is Google’s seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) designed to power massive AI workloads and challenge Nvidia’s GPU dominance. The chip can connect up to 9,216 units in a single pod for seamless…

Sahakar Sarathi Initiative Launches 13 New Services and Products for Cooperative Sector

Key Updates:

  • Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched over 13 new services and products under the ‘Sahakar Sarathi’ initiative.
  • New offerings include Digi KCC, Campaign Sarathi, Website Sarathi, Cooperative Governance Index, ePACS, the World’s Largest Grain Storage Application, Shiksha Sarathi and Sarathi Technology Forum.
  • The Ministry of Cooperation aims to establish a cooperative institution in every Panchayat, expand cooperative membership to more than 50 crore people and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP.

Similar / Past Coverage

Union Minister Jitendra Singh Felicitates Indian Team at 18th IESO (Start of September)

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has felicitated the student winners in New Delhi, comprising the Indian team at the 18th International Earth Science Olympiad IESO-2025. Team India put up a stellar performance by…

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. in $82.7 billion deal, combining streaming giant with century-old studio

Key Updates:

  • Netflix said it is buying Warner Bros. in a deal valued at $82.7 billion.
  • Netflix will buy Warner Bros. for $27.75 per share, giving the deal an equity value of $72 billion and a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion.
  • The transaction is expected to close in 12 to 18 months.
  • Netflix pledged to honor any contractual agreements for releasing Warner Bros.' studio films.

Similar / Past Coverage

LG, Amazon ink Wi-Fi patent licensing agreement (End of November)

LG Electronics said it signed a patent licensing deal with Amazon for the use of its Wi-Fi standard-essential patents. The agreement gives Amazon permission to use LG's Wi-Fi technologies in several of its connected…

Amazon completes $200 million cash acquisition of Axio, adds NBFC licence (Start of September)

Amazon’s acquisition of Axio is pegged at around $200 million. Axio has built an assets under management of Rs 2,200 crore with a gross non-performing asset base of 1.8%.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raises FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.3%

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised India’s GDP forecast for FY2025-26 upwards to 7.3% from the earlier 6.8%.
  • RBI raised Q3 FY26 growth estimate to 7.0% from 6.4%.
  • RBI raised Q4 FY26 growth estimate to 6.5% from 6.2%.
  • RBI raised Q1 FY27 growth projection to 6.7% from 6.4%.
  • RBI projected Q2 FY27 growth at 6.8%.
  • RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%.
  • India’s economy grew 8.2% in Q2 FY25, 7.8% in Q1 FY25, and 6.5% for full-year FY25.
  • RBI announced Rs 1 lakh crore OMO purchases and a 3-year USD/INR swap of USD 5 billion.
  • IMF projects India to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by end of 2025.

Similar / Past Coverage

ICRA upgrades FY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.5% after GST rate rationalisation (Mid of September)

ICRA has upgraded its GDP growth forecast to 6.5% from 6% for FY26. GST on 99% of goods has been slashed from 12% to 5%.

Fitch Raises India’s FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9% After Q2 Print of 7.8% (Mid of September)

Fitch Ratings raised India’s FY26 real GDP growth forecast to 6.9% from 6.5%. India’s real GDP grew 7.8% in the April–June quarter, up from 7.4% in the previous quarter.

India to Host UNESCO Global Heritage Committee Session at Red Fort

Key Updates:

  • India will host the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from 8 to 13 December 2025 at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.
  • The announcement was made by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
  • The session will examine new nominations for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists and review safeguarding status of inscribed elements.

Similar / Past Coverage

India Re-Elected to UNESCO Executive Board for 2025–29 Term (Start of December)

India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-29 term. Re-election reflects the international community’s confidence in India’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism and to UNESCO’s mandate…

India's Tentative World Heritage List Expands with 7 New Sites (Mid of September)

Seven new properties have been added to the Tentative List of UNESCO's World Heritage for India. With these additions, the number of Indian properties on the Tentative List are now 69.

Cristiano Ronaldo invests in AI firm Perplexity and launches Ronaldo hub assistant

Key Updates:

  • Cristiano Ronaldo has become an investor in and brand ambassador for AI company Perplexity.
  • He unveiled a custom AI assistant, Ronaldo hub, letting fans explore his archive and relive goals.
  • Perplexity aims to expand AI adoption globally, leveraging Ronaldo’s over 650 million social media followers.

Similar / Past Coverage

Sentient launches open-source AGI network uniting 40+ AI agents and 50+ data sources (Mid of September)

Technology: open-source Artificial General Intelligence network that lets agents, models and data sources collaborate in real time (“Sentient brings together the largest open collection of AI agents, models, and data…

PayPal to embed digital wallet into ChatGPT, enabling AI-driven agentic commerce (End of October)

PayPal will embed its digital payment wallet into ChatGPT starting next year, letting users complete purchases directly within the chatbot The integration will make "millions of products discoverable and purchasable…

Xi proposes World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization at APEC summit (Start of November)

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the creation of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to govern AI development and set international rules. Xi described AI as a 'public good for the international…

National Microwave Oven Day observed on December 6

Key Updates:

  • National Microwave Oven Day is celebrated every December 6.
  • The story of microwave ovens begins in 1945, when engineer Percy Spencer was working on a magnetron for radar equipment at Raytheon.
  • Percy Spencer patented the first microwave oven.
  • The first commercial microwave ovens, released in 1947, were named “Radarange.”
  • Microwave ovens changed the way the world cooks.

Similar / Past Coverage

World EV Day™ observed on 9 September 2025 with the Better Manifesto (Mid of September)

World EV Day™ is marked every year on 9 September and in 2025 it returns for its sixth year as the biggest global emobility campaign. The 2025 edition promotes the Better Manifesto, communicating that EVs are better to…

BEE introduces NECA 2025 award category for digital creators promoting energy efficiency (Mid of September)

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under India’s Ministry of Power launched “National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) for Content Creators and Influencers” for 2025 Eligible creators must have “at least 10,000 followers…

Mahaparinirvan Diwas observed to honour Dr BR Ambedkar's legacy

Key Updates:

  • Mahaparinirvan Diwas is observed every year on December 6 to commemorate the death anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
  • Dr Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956.
  • President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered tributes at Prerana Sthal on Parliament premises.
  • PM Modi recalled Ambedkar's visionary leadership and commitment to justice, equality and constitutionalism.
  • Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray paid tributes at Chaityabhoomi in Shivaji Park.

Similar / Past Coverage

Static GK: Book 'India after Gandhi' and Abbreviation AMS (Mid of September)

The book 'India after Gandhi' was written by historian Ramachandra Guha. The book 'India after Gandhi' was published in 2007.

Digvijay Diwas observed on September 11 annually (Mid of September)

Digvijay Diwas is observed every year on September 11. It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.

Donald Trump wins inaugural FIFA Peace Prize

Key Updates:

  • Donald Trump was the winner of the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize," which the soccer organization awarded during its World Cup draw in Washington.
  • The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced the creation of the prize a month ago, stating it would "reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace."
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally handed the trophy, a certificate, and a medal to Trump during the draw at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
  • Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration in January and has visited Washington multiple times since.
  • He sat in the front row of a peace agreement signing between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo that Trump held in Washington on the eve of the draw.
  • Trump hosted Infantino in the Oval Office to announce the Kennedy Center as the host of the World Cup draw.
  • Infantino also attended the Gaza ceasefire signing ceremony that Trump held in October.
  • The FIFA boss appeared in the Oval Office again in November to unveil an expedited visa process for World Cup ticket holders.
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also attended the Washington, D.C draw.
  • Infantino considers President Trump a "close friend" and has acknowledged their budding relationship.
  • Trump recently welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo to the White House for a dinner honoring the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

Similar / Past Coverage

Donald Trump receives Grand Order of Mugunghwa and replica Silla crown from South Korea (End of October)

Donald Trump was presented with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest decoration, and a replica of an ancient Silla dynasty gold crown during his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. The award…

Melania Trump receives ‘Patriot of the Year’ award from Fox Nation (Start of November)

Melania Trump was honoured with the ‘Patriot of the Year’ award by Fox Nation, a streaming service. She received the award for her several social and humanitarian efforts since her husband, Donald Trump, returned to…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends international forums and summits (Start of November)

Infantino joined Trump at the Summit for Peace in Egypt on Oct. 13 attended the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 28

Sir David Beckham receives knighthood for services to football and British society (Start of November)

Sir David Beckham, aged 50, was formally knighted for his services to football and British society. He was knighted by King Charles during a ceremony in Berkshire.

FIFA World Cup 2026 draw completes group stage lineup

Key Updates:

  • The draw placed 42 qualified teams and 22 play-off contenders into 12 groups for the expanded 48-team tournament.
  • Hosts Canada, Mexico and USA were drawn into Groups B, A and D respectively.
  • Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify, will face Germany in Group E.
  • Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama; Group I features France, Senegal, Norway and a play-off winner.
  • The tournament opener on 11 June 2026 will see Mexico play South Africa in Mexico City.
  • The final will be held on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey.

Similar / Past Coverage

Bahrain to Host Third Asian Youth Games in October 2025 (Start of November)

Bahrain will host the Third Asian Youth Games. The games will be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Ministry of Women and Child Development launches 100-day Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is launching the 100-day Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign.
  • The campaign will be formally launched on 4 December, 2025.
  • The 100-day campaign period is from 27 November 2025 to 8 March 2026.
  • It aims to build a Child Marriage Free Bharat.
  • The campaign calls upon citizens, institutions, and community leaders to join the movement.
  • It follows a structured, three-spell plan.
  • The national drive will be implemented in close coordination with the Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Education.

Similar / Past Coverage

Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan and 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah: Largest-ever women & children health outreach (End of September)

Scheme Name: 'Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar' (SNSP) Abhiyaan jointly led by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Women & Child Development. Objective: Provide women-centric preventive, promotive and…

India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise 'Garuda Shakti' Begins in Himachal

Key Updates:

  • The 10th edition of the India-Indonesia joint special forces exercise 'Garuda Shakti' is being conducted from December 3-12 at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, in Himachal Pradesh.
  • The Indian contingent is represented by troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent comprises personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces.
  • The exercise aims to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the special forces of the two nations.
  • Its scope includes troop-level tactics, techniques and procedures in a counter-terrorism environment, covering unarmed combat techniques, combat shooting, sniping, heliborne operations and planning for drone, counter-UAS and loiter-munition strikes in semi-mountainous terrain.

Similar / Past Coverage

Indian Armed Forces depart for Zapad 2025 exercise in Russia (Mid of September)

Exercise name: Zapad 2025; location: Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, Russia Indian contingent: 57 Army (led by Kumaon Regiment battalion), 7 IAF, 1 Navy personnel

Indian Army conducts Exercise Siyom Prahar to validate drone technology (Mid of September)

The Indian Army successfully conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar. The exercise was conducted from September 8 to 10.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Hitachi MGRM Net Ltd sign pact to build AI-enabled national innovation platform

Key Updates:

  • The platform, MStarTM Global AI Connect, will form a national digital backbone linking schools with mentors, incubators, research institutions, accelerators and industry.
  • It will support virtual Atal Tinkering Labs and virtual incubation centres linked to physical facilities.
  • The collaboration will provide workflows for ideation-to-pilot projects, readiness-level tracking and challenge grants.
  • Analytics generated by the platform will aid policy decisions at the Centre and State levels.

Similar / Past Coverage

TCS and CEA Partner to Advance Physical AI in France (Mid of September)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a partnership with CEA, a French public research organisation. The collaboration aims to develop and industrialise Physical AI solutions.

Sentient launches open-source AGI network uniting 40+ AI agents and 50+ data sources (Mid of September)

Technology: open-source Artificial General Intelligence network that lets agents, models and data sources collaborate in real time (“Sentient brings together the largest open collection of AI agents, models, and data…

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas AI-powered web browser to compete with Google (End of October)

Technology: ChatGPT Atlas browser integrates an "Ask ChatGPT" sidebar that activates on every website visited Functionality: Browser can perform tasks such as booking flights and editing documents on behalf of the user

OpenAI Secures $38 Billion Cloud Computing Deal with Amazon Web Services for AI Infrastructure (Start of November)

OpenAI has come to terms on a massive 7-year, $38 billion deal with Amazon Web Services. The deal is to secure cloud computing capabilities needed to power its suite of advanced AI tools such as ChatGPT and Sora.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and ACLEDA Bank Plc. enable UPI & KHQR acceptance across India and Cambodia.

Key Updates:

  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with ACLEDA Bank Plc., Cambodia's first publicly listed commercial bank, to interconnect UPI and KHQR networks.
  • Indian travellers can use UPI-enabled apps at over 4.5 million KHQR merchant touchpoints in Cambodia.
  • Cambodian tourists can scan more than 709 million UPI QR codes in India using Cambodian payment apps.
  • ACLEDA Bank Plc. operates Cambodia's national QR network, Bakong (KHQR), as nominated by the National Bank of Cambodia.

Similar / Past Coverage

NPCI Grants TPAP Approval to Viyona Fintech for UPI Services (Start of September)

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has granted Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) approval to Viyona Fintech. This milestone enables Viyona to offer Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in…

NPCI Expands UPI Payments to Malaysia Through Partnership with Razorpay Curlec (Start of November)

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with Razorpay Curlec enabling UPI transactions in Malaysia. This integration will allow Indian travellers visiting Malaysia to make instant and secure payments to…

Junio Payments Secures RBI In-Principle Authorisation for Prepaid Payment Instruments (Start of November)

IANS Junio Payments Pvt Ltd (JPPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of FirstPay Technologies, has secured in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs). The…

UPI-UPU Integration Project Launched in Dubai for Global Remittances (Start of September)

Union Minister for Communication Jyotiraditya M Scindia launched the UPI-UPU Integration project in Dubai. The initiative aims to transform cross-border remittances for millions worldwide.

Vrutti and HSBC India launch FPO Shakti blended finance facility targeting 100+ FPOs

Key Updates:

  • Vrutti and HSBC India introduce FPO Shakti, a blended, stage-based financing facility for Farmer-Producer Organisations.
  • Facility supported by Friends of Women's World Banking (FWWB) India as Facility Manager.
  • India hosts over 44,000 registered FPOs, with fewer than one-third accessing formal credit.
  • Initial cohort of 15 early-growth FPOs to be supported, scaling to 100+ organisations.
  • Facility combines revolving funds, guarantees, revenue-linked finance and technical assistance via Business Support Organisations.
  • Each FPO undergoes a 24-month acceleration journey covering governance, market systems, financial discipline and digital enablement.

Similar / Past Coverage

Fitch Ratings raises India FY26 GDP forecast to 7.4% from 6.9%

Key Updates:

  • Fitch Ratings has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.4% from 6.9%.
  • Private consumer spending is the main driver of growth this year, supported by strong real income dynamics and increased consumer sentiment.
  • India’s GDP growth accelerated to a six-quarter high of 8.2% in the second quarter of FY26, up from 5.6% in the same quarter last year.
  • Consumer price inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.3% in October, driven by lower food and drink prices (-3.7% in the year to October).
  • Fitch expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut the policy rate once more in December to 5.25%, following 100bp of cuts in 2025.
  • Fitch projects India’s GDP growth to slow to 6.4% in FY27 and further to 6.2% in FY28.
  • India faces one of the highest ETRs on its exports to the US (about 35%); a trade agreement that lowers the ETR would boost external demand.

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Fitch Raises India’s FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9% After Q2 Print of 7.8% (Mid of September)

Fitch Ratings raised India’s FY26 real GDP growth forecast to 6.9% from 6.5%. India’s real GDP grew 7.8% in the April–June quarter, up from 7.4% in the previous quarter.

Nokia partners with Bharti Airtel to open 5G network APIs via Network as Code platform

Key Updates:

  • Nokia said Airtel’s 5G mobile network capabilities, running on the non-standalone (NSA) architecture, will be made available to third-party developers through the Nokia “Network as Code” platform.
  • Following successful trials, Airtel's network APIs will be available on a subscription basis to an established ecosystem of developers, system integrators, and enterprises using Nokia's Network as Code platform.
  • This will enable the developer community to seamlessly build advanced solutions leveraging the Airtel network's robust capabilities such as AI, 5G, edge computing and more, the companies said in a joint statement.

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Jindal Stainless raises Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) ESG score to 78, ranks among top global steelmakers.

Key Updates:

  • Jindal Stainless improved its DJSI ESG score to 78 from 60 in the previous year.
  • The score places Jindal Stainless in the top five per cent of global steel companies assessed.
  • Jindal Stainless ranks fourth within the steel sector and first in the stainless-steel segment.
  • Environmental, Social and Governance scores stand at 83, 73 and 76, respectively.
  • The company recorded a 14 per cent year-on-year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in FY25.
  • Jindal Stainless received the Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability during the year.
  • The company operates domestic and overseas manufacturing facilities and recorded a turnover of ₹40,182 crore in FY25.

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Bokaro Steel Plant develops first-of-its-kind 28MnB5 grade manganese-boron steel for agriculture (Start of November)

Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), developed a new 28MnB5 grade manganese-boron steel. This specialised steel is the first of its kind within SAIL, engineered specifically for…

PLI 1.2 Scheme for Speciality Steel: Third Round Launched to Boost High-Grade Steel Production (Start of November)

Scheme Name: PLI 1.2 (third round of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for speciality steel) launched by Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy. Objective: "to encourage production of high-value, high-grade steels…

Baba Kalyani wins Indian of the Year 2025 in Business category (End of November)

Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge, received the Indian of the Year 2025 award in the Business category at CNN-News18’s annual ceremony. He was honoured for advancing India’s “Make in India”…

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge recognize Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) among Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars

Key Updates:

  • Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been recognised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge as one of the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) globally.
  • BPCL is the only Indian organisation included in this year’s international ranking.
  • The Corporate Startup Stars Awards 2025 identified 100 companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 lists.
  • The awards honor leading corporates for their efforts in promoting open innovation, engaging with startup ecosystems, and supporting new technology development.
  • Sanjay Khanna serves as BPCL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
  • BPCL’s startup initiative is named Ankur.
  • Ankur was launched in 2016.
  • Ankur has supported 30 startups.
  • BPCL established the BPCL Ankur Fund to invest in promising early-stage companies.
  • John W. H. Denton AO is the Secretary General of ICC.
  • Alberto Onetti is the Chairman of Mind the Bridge.

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DPIIT–CarDekho MoU to Accelerate Mobility & Fintech Startups (Mid of September)

MoU signed between Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and CarDekho Group to strengthen DPIIT-recognised startups in mobility, fintech, insurtech, and…

Mohit Sharma announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Key Updates:

  • Veteran India pacer Mohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
  • The 37-year-old pacer featured in 34 international appearances—26 ODIs and 8 T20Is.
  • He took 35 wickets in 26 ODIs and six wickets in 8 T20s.
  • Mohit was part of India's 2015 ODI World Cup squad.
  • He played more than a decade in the Indian Premier League, representing Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.
  • In 2023, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the season for Gujarat Titans.

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Kane Williamson announces retirement from T20 Internationals (Start of November)

Kane Williamson retires as New Zealand's second-highest T20I run-scorer with 2,575 runs from 93 matches. He captained New Zealand to the 2021 T20 World Cup final, scoring 85 in the final against Australia.